In a recent conversation with my coach, I shared a big idea I have for my company – an idea I’ve held for quite some time. “What’s holding you back?” she asked.
I mentally ran through my list of excuses before finally answering, “Fear. What if it doesn’t work?”
“Christi,” she said, “you can’t get to 2nd base with one foot still on 1st.”
It’s true. No matter how hard you try, you can’t move on to the 2nd base of your dreams while remaining firmly “safe” on 1st base. And you definitely can’t score a run unless you get out of your comfort zone and GO FOR IT.In her book Secrets of Six-Figure Women, Barbara Stanny calls this “Letting Go of the Ledge.” I spoke with Barbara yesterday and she elaborated, saying that fear can actually be exciting – and greeted as such – because it means growth is just around the corner. “Get the support you need,” she advised our ASPIRE group, “then let go of that ledge. Something better is waiting, and you need to let go of what’s comfortable in order for those doors to open up to you.”
Here are 3 ideas to help you let go of your ledge – maybe even without kicking and screaming 😉 – in order to experience your next great change:
- Be real. Really. What, honestly, do you need to let go of? A limiting belief, an unfulfilling obligation, a less than stellar attitude, clutter? For many, we need to let go of our story – “I can’t,” “I’ve never done that,” “I’m too old and set in my ways.” Start by letting go of those barriers.
- Trust yourself. You’ve come this far in life with a track record of success. Focus on those successes while you strategize moving forward. You have greater power than you realize, and the fact is you’ve handled everything – every single thing – that’s come your way.
- Decide and move forward. Once you’ve made your decision, take action immediately. Trust that you’ve made the right choice – don’t waffle over it indefinitely. Buyer’s remorse can be worse than difficulty making a decision in the first place! See #2 for help with this tip.
What ledge do you need to let go of in order to grow into who you’re meant to be?
And what are you waiting for?